Amusement Park Injury

It has been estimated that the chances of an individual obtaining a carnival or amusement park injury resulting in an overnight hospital stay or in death are about 1 in 9 million. Further, while over 4000 children are hurt at amusement parks each year, only 1.5% of these are serious enough to require hospitalization.

Yet, while the statistics may not suggest that amusement parks represent a big risk for accidents, for those who are injured in these locales, claims made against park owners, operators and ride manufacturers may be particularly complex. There are several reasons for this. First, such accidents touch upon several different areas of the law including premises liability, personal injury and product liability. Second, fault may lie with any of a number of parties including the park owner/operator, park employees, ride manufacturer, and/or the park visitor. Further, they can be due any one or combination of reasons, including:

Faulty or negligent operation

Mechanical failure

Poor security

No warning signs

Poor maintenance

Improper height/weight restrictions

Pre-existing medical conditions

Visitor non-compliance with park/ride regulations

Finally, and perhaps most important, park owners and operators will often take a) an aggressive stance against claimants so that other, similar lawsuits are not filed, or b) seek to settle quickly and cheaply with the plaintiff. Most often, such settlements do not cover all of the necessary expenses that the individual may require now and in the future.

For all of these reasons, if you have been seriously injured in an amusement park, inflatable park ride or a public water slide, it is important that you speak with an attorney prior to making any kind of statement or agreeing to a settlement.

If you would like to discuss matters pertaining to an injury sustained at an amusement park, contact us at 609-561-5005 or submit the form on the right hand side.